Make sure holiday toy gifts are safe

Published: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 7:42 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 7:42 a.m.

Put toy safety at the top of your list

Facts

Kim Horton is the public information officer at the Henderson County Department of Public Health. She can be reached at khorton@hendersoncountync.org.

As a child, I always checked the mailbox around this time of year for the Sears Wish Book catalog. This iconic holiday tradition for me included making a handwritten list of wishes — all toys — just in case my parents forgot what I wanted.

The Sears Wish Book eventually changed into wishbook.com, but that hasn't stopped children from making their own wish lists each year. A list makes it easy for us to be sure we buy them what they want, but how many of us consider the safety of a particular toy before buying it? It's something to consider, based on the number of toy recalls and injuries each year.

Fortunately, a tough product-safety law enacted in 2008 has led to a decrease in the number of toy recalls. Yet in 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 181,500 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms and 17 toy-related deaths among children less than 15 years old.

Not every toy risk can be anticipated or prevented, but most can with a little forethought. As you shop this month, keep in mind the following tips when choosing a toy:

u Look for choking hazards, a common cause of toy-related deaths. Buy big toys. If a toy or toy part can pass through a toilet paper tube, don't buy it. Look for a choke hazard warning on toys for children between 3 and 6 years of age. Balls should have a diameter greater than 2 inches for children younger than 6. Rethink giving a balloon any time of year. Balloons and balloon pieces are leading choking hazards for children younger than 8. Don't forget to consider the safety issue of small eyes and noses on stuffed toys and dolls.

u Watch out for toys with magnets and batteries. If the small magnets used in building toys or jewelry fall out, a child might think they are candy and ingest them. If a child swallows multiple magnets, serious injuries can happen. If a child swallows any magnet, seek medical attention immediately. Make sure that any batteries associated with a toy are secured within it.

u Does the sound from a toy hurt your ears? If a toy seems too loud for you, then it's too loud for your child's sensitive ears. Remember, if needed, you can take the batteries out of loud toys.

u What age is the toy recommended for? Not all toys are for all children. Some toys for older children might be hazardous for a younger child.

u Does it go fast? Bicycles, skateboards, inline skates and scooters are prone to causing falls. Helmets and safety gear should always be considered a part of this gift. Make sure they are sized to fit and are worn properly at all times.

u Will it wind up in the child's mouth? With toddlers and babies, toys inevitably end up in their mouths. While this is a normal behavior, it also increases their risk of dangerous exposure to toxins such as lead, phthalate and cadmium. Be a label reader. Make sure the toy you choose is suitable and safe for their age and behaviors.

u Man vs. product package. Parents need to know how to safely open hard plastic toy packages without sending themselves to the emergency room. It's important to use heavy-duty scissors and cut away from your body. Never use utility knives or razor blades. Consider wearing gloves. When it's open, be careful handling the plastic — the edges are sharp!

u Save the warranties and directions. Fill out those warranty cards — you will be notified if the product is recalled. As an extra precaution, sign up for safety recall alerts at the Consumer Product Safety Commission website (www.cpsc.gov).

Even with all the safety checks and inspections, every year some unsafe toys make it into the market and are sold. Careful toy selection by knowing what to look for and what to avoid is your best weapon against purchasing an unsafe toy. As you're shopping this month to make those wishes come true, be sure you're checking those toys twice with the tips above. Your attention to what matters is the best way to ensure your family has a happy and safe holiday.

Kim Horton is the public information officer at the Henderson County Department of Public Health. She can be reached at khorton@hendersoncountync.org.

<p>Put toy safety at the top of your list</p><p>As a child, I always checked the mailbox around this time of year for the Sears Wish Book catalog. This iconic holiday tradition for me included making a handwritten list of wishes — all toys — just in case my parents forgot what I wanted. </p><p>The Sears Wish Book eventually changed into wishbook.com, but that hasn't stopped children from making their own wish lists each year. A list makes it easy for us to be sure we buy them what they want, but how many of us consider the safety of a particular toy before buying it? It's something to consider, based on the number of toy recalls and injuries each year. </p><p>Fortunately, a tough product-safety law enacted in 2008 has led to a decrease in the number of toy recalls. Yet in 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 181,500 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms and 17 toy-related deaths among children less than 15 years old. </p><p>Not every toy risk can be anticipated or prevented, but most can with a little forethought. As you shop this month, keep in mind the following tips when choosing a toy:</p><p>u Look for choking hazards, a common cause of toy-related deaths. Buy big toys. If a toy or toy part can pass through a toilet paper tube, don't buy it. Look for a choke hazard warning on toys for children between 3 and 6 years of age. Balls should have a diameter greater than 2 inches for children younger than 6. Rethink giving a balloon any time of year. Balloons and balloon pieces are leading choking hazards for children younger than 8. Don't forget to consider the safety issue of small eyes and noses on stuffed toys and dolls. </p><p>u Watch out for toys with magnets and batteries. If the small magnets used in building toys or jewelry fall out, a child might think they are candy and ingest them. If a child swallows multiple magnets, serious injuries can happen. If a child swallows any magnet, seek medical attention immediately. Make sure that any batteries associated with a toy are secured within it.</p><p>u Does the sound from a toy hurt your ears? If a toy seems too loud for you, then it's too loud for your child's sensitive ears. Remember, if needed, you can take the batteries out of loud toys.</p><p>u What age is the toy recommended for? Not all toys are for all children. Some toys for older children might be hazardous for a younger child. </p><p>u Does it go fast? Bicycles, skateboards, inline skates and scooters are prone to causing falls. Helmets and safety gear should always be considered a part of this gift. Make sure they are sized to fit and are worn properly at all times.</p><p>u Will it wind up in the child's mouth? With toddlers and babies, toys inevitably end up in their mouths. While this is a normal behavior, it also increases their risk of dangerous exposure to toxins such as lead, phthalate and cadmium. Be a label reader. Make sure the toy you choose is suitable and safe for their age and behaviors.</p><p>u Man vs. product package. Parents need to know how to safely open hard plastic toy packages without sending themselves to the emergency room. It's important to use heavy-duty scissors and cut away from your body. Never use utility knives or razor blades. Consider wearing gloves. When it's open, be careful handling the plastic — the edges are sharp!</p><p>u Save the warranties and directions. Fill out those warranty cards — you will be notified if the product is recalled. As an extra precaution, sign up for safety recall alerts at the Consumer Product Safety Commission website (www.cpsc.gov). </p><p>Even with all the safety checks and inspections, every year some unsafe toys make it into the market and are sold. Careful toy selection by knowing what to look for and what to avoid is your best weapon against purchasing an unsafe toy. As you're shopping this month to make those wishes come true, be sure you're checking those toys twice with the tips above. Your attention to what matters is the best way to ensure your family has a happy and safe holiday.</p><p>Kim Horton is the public information officer at the Henderson County Department of Public Health. She can be reached at khorton@hendersoncountync.org.</p>